Sprinkler System: help me please?

[Lost Student]

I was out doing yard work and noticed a large pool of water along the side of my house. After (inwardly) blaming the neighbors, I realized that the source of the water was one of my sprinkler boxes. I pulled off the lid and the box was completely overflowing.

After shutting off the main sprinkler valve, I used the wet-vac to drain the water out and this is what I saw:



The actuator valves (blue and yellow arrows) had been left open, so I manually closed them. Then I turned the main sprinkler valve on and observed no leaking. Then I manually turned each valve on one at a time. When I turned on the blue arrow valve, water began spraying from the filter housing (green circled object) from where it unscrews at its base. I took it off, examined it, and found no cracks.

Here are my questions. Any help is appreciated:

• What could cause the filter housing to leak? Was it because the actuator valve was opened too far and the housing's threaded connection isn't built to handle that much pressure?
• Why does only one of the lines have a filter? Is it a necessity for a drip system? (That line may be the drip system but I haven't figured out for sure yet.)
• When my sprinkler controller automatically activates each valve, will it have problems if I turned each actuator valve too hard?

Again, I appreciate anybody's willingness to help.

[mtnbiker]

Here are my questions. Any help is appreciated:

• What could cause the filter housing to leak? Was it because the actuator valve was opened too far and the housing's threaded connection isn't built to handle that much pressure?
• Why does only one of the lines have a filter? Is it a necessity for a drip system? (That line may be the drip system but I haven't figured out for sure yet.)
• When my sprinkler controller automatically activates each valve, will it have problems if I turned each actuator valve too hard?

Again, I appreciate anybody's willingness to help.

I'd figure leaks are due to old age or freezing. Did you shut off and drain the system before winter? You might not see a crack on first glance, but there must be one there. I would think the connection would be designed to handle pressures typically found in a residential neighborhood. Are you sure where each line goes? Maybe the filter is intended for a line with a water fountain, to let kids get drinks outside.

Not sure how you can turn the valve too hard when it's electrically operated with a solenoid.

Just replace the filter (are you sure that's what it is?) or remove it from the system entirely, and try again to see if you have the leaks fixed.